Marijuana and Molasses??

Rottedroots

Well-Known Member
Every one seem to say molasses is the way to go when flowering but can anybody sum it up as to why? I am four weeks into 12/12 and am going to start using it tomorrow for what I estimate to be the last four or five weeks of flowering.
:D
Why exactly am I going to be using it (RUI concensus) and if it is of some value why haven't the commercial fert guys not incorporated it into their line-up in some form that is more expensive than "grandma's"
:dunce:
I can't imagine burning would be much of a problem because it's bioavailability must be limited or at least retarded. How much should I plan on using to get the most out of it without wasting anything.
:dunce:
Yes I am confused but can I use it in a VERY weak foliar spray? Can I get it on the leaves or just make sure it stays on the roots? Are there ANY drawbacks that anyone is aware of when using molasses and would a dark corn syrup or brown sugar solution be reasonable substitutes? OH yeah.. Sulpher is a valued micro nutrient so why UNSULPHERED?
In a nutshell, hook a brother up with MOLASSES 101 :dunce::leaf::D
 
sugars and carbohydrates, one tablespoon per gallon. i would keep it to the roots, its sweet and it will atttract bugs. unsulkphered backstrap molasses, the brown bottle with the yellow label.
 

Dpllrd01

Member
Why Molasses?

The reason nutrient manufacturer’s have “discovered” molasses is the simple fact that it’s a great source of carbohydrates to stimulate the growth of beneficial
microorganisms. “Carbohydrate” is really just a fancy word for sugar, and molasses is
the best sugar for horticultural use. Folks who have read some of our prior essays know that we are big fans of promoting and nourishing soil life, and
that we attribute a good portion of our growing success to the attention we pay to building a thriving “micro-herd” to work in concert with plant roots
to digest and assimilate nutrients. We really do buy into the old organic gardening adage - “Feed the soil not the plant.”


Molasses is a good, quick source of energy for the various forms of microbes and soil life in a compost pile or good living soil. As we said earlier, molasses
is a carbon source that feeds the beneficial microbes that create greater natural soil fertility. But, if giving a sugar boost was the only goal, there
would be lot’s of alternatives. We could even go with the old Milly Blunt story of using Coke on plants as a child, after all Coke would be a great source
of sugar to feed microbes and it also contains phosphoric acid to provide phosphorus for strengthening roots and encouraging blooming. In our eyes though,
the primary thing that makes molasses the best sugar for agricultural use is it’s trace minerals.




In addition to sugars, molasses contains significant amounts of potash, sulfur, and a variety of micronutrients. Because molasses is derived from plants,
and because the manufacturing processes that create it remove mostly sugars, the majority of the mineral nutrients that were contained in the original
sugar cane or sugar beet are still present in molasses. This is a critical factor because a balanced supply of mineral nutrients is essential for those
“beneficial beauties” to survive and thrive. That’s one of the secrets we’ve discovered to really successful organic gardening, the micronutrients found
in organic amendments like molasses, kelp, and alfalfa were all derived from other plant sources and are quickly and easily available to our soil and plants.
This is especially important for the soil “micro-herd” of critters who depend on
tiny amounts of those trace minerals as catalysts to make the enzymes that create biochemical transformations. That last sentence was our fancy way of saying
- it’s actually the critters in “live soil” that break down organic fertilizers and “feed” it to our plants.


One final benefit molasses can provide to your garden is it’s ability to work as a chelating agent. That’s a scientific way of saying that molasses is one
of those “magical” substances that can convert some chemical nutrients into a form that’s easily available for critters and plants. Chelated minerals can
be absorbed directly and remain available and stable in the
soil. Rather than spend a lot of time and effort explaining the relationships between chelates and micronutrients, we are going to quote one of our favorite
sources for explaining soil for scientific laymen.

“Micro-nutrients occur, in cells as well as in soil, as part of large, complex organic molecules in chelated form. The word chelate (pronounced “KEE-late”)
comes from the Greek word for “claw,” which indicates how a single nutrient ion is held in the center of the larger molecule. The finely balanced interactions
between micro-nutrients are complex and not fully understood. We do know that balance is crucial; any micro-nutrient, when present in excessive amounts,
will become a poison, and certain poisonous elements, such as chlorine are also essential micro-nutrients.. Later.... D
 

Rottedroots

Well-Known Member
Thanks Dp and to you as well jesus. I'm growing with my own soil. Dp and it's loaded with beneficials and micronutrients. I could probably flip a pot over now and find worms it's so active. If the goal is to achieve an active living soil then why do so many guys wait for the flowering cycle to incorporate it into the regiment. I would think molasses would have a relatively poor bioavailability. I would also think the major fertilizer manufacturers would have tried to mimic the benefits of molasses. It seems odd to buy a variety of blooming fertilizers And then by grandma's off the shelf. I will say this although I am not convinced I incorporated molasses into today's watering and will up until harvest. There is a lot of contradictory information available on Riu So you must pick n choose. You know What I mean. Yours is the best explanation so far Dp and I spend as much time in my compost heap as I do in the garden so I understand the importance of building a healthy soil. So many RIU folks swear by it so i'm going for the ride. Thanks again for all your help. I really do appreciate it.
 
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